H. C. R. No. 44 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 44

Representatives Dovilla, Fedor

Cosponsors: Representatives Romanchuk, Mallory, Ramos, Foley, Stebelton, Adams, J., Thompson

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To urge the Congress of the United States to 1
appropriate funds for the construction of the 2
United States Customs Plaza for the New 3
International Trade Crossing between the United 4
States and Canada. 5

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, Canada is the largest foreign trade partner for the 6
United States and the largest export destination for products from 7
38 states, including Ohio. In 2012, Canada purchased more than 8
$102 billion in goods from Midwestern states; and 9

       WHEREAS, More than 8 million United States jobs depend on 10
trade with Canada, approximately 1.5 million of these jobs are in 11
Midwestern states, and 2.4 million Canadian jobs depend on trade 12
with the United States; and 13

       WHEREAS, In 2012, Canadians visited Midwestern states 14
approximately 8 million times and spent $1.7 billion, while 15
Americans from Midwestern states made over 6 million visits to 16
Canada and spent over $1.6 billion; and 17

       WHEREAS, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen 18
Harper have acknowledged the significance of the relationship 19
between the United States and Canada by issuing joint action plans 20
in 2011 to boost security, trade, and travel between the two 21
countries. However, the current bridge between Detroit, Michigan 22
and Windsor, Ontario, which carries one-fourth of all trade 23
between the United States and Canada, is eighty-four years old. A 24
new international trade crossing has been proposed and will have a 25
significant impact on the economies of both the United States and 26
Canada, creating 10,000-15,000 construction jobs and thousands of 27
additional indirect jobs throughout the region; and 28

       WHEREAS, The State of Michigan and Transport Canada have 29
signed an agreement to enter into a public-private partnership to 30
finance and build the New International Trade Crossing. Further, 31
the province of Ontario has invested hundreds of millions of 32
dollars in the approach to the New International Trade Crossing, 33
and the United States government has issued a presidential permit 34
that allows for land acquisition and construction of the New 35
International Trade Crossing to proceed; and 36

       WHEREAS, The New International Trade Crossing is vital to 37
ensuring the ongoing viability of existing trade between Ohio and 38
Canada, and will lay the foundation for future productivity, 39
growth, and economic stability of local economies across the 40
Midwest region of the United States; now therefore be it 41

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 42
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, strongly urge 43
the Congress of the United States to appropriate the necessary 44
funds for the construction of the United States Customs Plaza for 45
the New International Trade Crossing between the United States and 46
Canada; and be it further 47

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 48
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 49
Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, 50
the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States 51
Senate, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the 52
news media of Ohio. 53

WHEREAS, Canada is the largest foreign trade partner for the	6
United States and the largest export destination for products from	7
38 states, including Ohio. In 2012, Canada purchased more than	8
$102 billion in goods from Midwestern states; and	9

WHEREAS, More than 8 million United States jobs depend on	10
trade with Canada, approximately 1.5 million of these jobs are in	11
Midwestern states, and 2.4 million Canadian jobs depend on trade	12
with the United States; and	13

WHEREAS, In 2012, Canadians visited Midwestern states	14
approximately 8 million times and spent $1.7 billion, while	15
Americans from Midwestern states made over 6 million visits to	16
Canada and spent over $1.6 billion; and	17

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen	18
Harper have acknowledged the significance of the relationship	19
between the United States and Canada by issuing joint action plans	20
in 2011 to boost security, trade, and travel between the two	21
countries. However, the current bridge between Detroit, Michigan	22
and Windsor, Ontario, which carries one-fourth of all trade	23
between the United States and Canada, is eighty-four years old. A	24
new international trade crossing has been proposed and will have a	25
significant impact on the economies of both the United States and	26
Canada, creating 10,000-15,000 construction jobs and thousands of	27
additional indirect jobs throughout the region; and	28

WHEREAS, The State of Michigan and Transport Canada have	29
signed an agreement to enter into a public-private partnership to	30
finance and build the New International Trade Crossing. Further,	31
the province of Ontario has invested hundreds of millions of	32
dollars in the approach to the New International Trade Crossing,	33
and the United States government has issued a presidential permit	34
that allows for land acquisition and construction of the New	35
International Trade Crossing to proceed; and	36

WHEREAS, The New International Trade Crossing is vital to	37
ensuring the ongoing viability of existing trade between Ohio and	38
Canada, and will lay the foundation for future productivity,	39
growth, and economic stability of local economies across the	40
Midwest region of the United States; now therefore be it	41

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	42
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, strongly urge	43
the Congress of the United States to appropriate the necessary	44
funds for the construction of the United States Customs Plaza for	45
the New International Trade Crossing between the United States and	46
Canada; and be it further	47

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	48
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	49
Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives,	50
the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States	51
Senate, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the	52
news media of Ohio.	53